Oh! I wish I was really off on a trip to this lovely little country...I have several friends who have visited Vietnam over the past couple of decades and the unanimous review on their return has been that this is a simply wonderful holiday destination. Indeed, many have made return trips to what they tell me is a very friendly, happy, easy place to visit.

So, why am I wittering on about this? Because it is our EIM destination, and my week to do some research and thinking about the history of this place that loomed large throughout my teenage years.

The Australian involvement in the war in Vietnam started when I was ten years old, in 1962, and did not end until ten years later, this country's longest involvement in a war.I really think that it was through this defining issue that I began to understand how politics could influence and affect one. I began to identify issues and think about the broader influences that impacted on my little life. Public debate about our involvement in the war created social discord and a lot of heated discussions depending on one's ideology.Conscription impacted as a very significant issue for many of my young male friends during those years.I was forced to think more deeply about such issues, to form an opinion, read far more widely, and most importantly, to listen and analyse others perspectives then consider my own in light of their discussions...in fact, this country, sadly for all the wrong reasons, became a catalyst for my development towards maturity.

My first thought for which flower image I should use to depict the country was the lotus. When I Googled for the National flower of Vietnam, there it was, no additional thought required.

There are so many beautiful images of this delicate flower available on the web, particularly of the white locus, that I was very sorely tempted not to try and paint an image, simply use a photograph. There was one beautiful dark blue watery reflection image that really caught my eye. Rather stupidly, I decided to try and replicate it.​I still haven't purchased any better watercolours yet, not having been to town, but I had been playing with my Derwent water colour pencils and used these to paint my little flower and bud. Never mind, I tried! Very little delicate translucency here either, but it did get me away from the red colouring of all the previous images...

It does look better from a distance and with ones eyes heavily squinted....however, it is what it is.

Here it is, in the album.

I have completed the Writing Family History unit, although it does not end unto January 31st. I need to start looking for something else...I hope there are other units available in the Diploma of Family History, I have now completed several and may nearing the end of the "freebie" list and will have to consider carefully whether I want to complete the course.

It has been so hot this past week or so that the poor fuchsias are literally cooking on their branches before the buds can open...I have a lot of pruning to do...Rain is forecast for later today, I have my fingers, toes and eyes all crossed!

Yesterday, Sunday 28th January, at 37 degrees, was one of our hottest and most humid days. We went for a drive in the evening and I caught the last of the sunset over the Wellington Range, to the west. The overnight temperature was the highest on record...hard to sleep!

​Despite the heat and the lack of any rain at all, the butter beans in Tim's garden are simply thriving. My freezer is very well stocked and friends are getting a tad sick of offers...I have asked Tim to leave about a third of the bushes to dry off. I am hoping that they will produce dry beans for winter soup and casserole use They have the look of pale green haricot beans....fingies crossed. But even if they don't form beans solid enough for keeping as dry produce, it will reduce the quantities of fresh beans they bring home. It will be worth the experiment! ;)

Delicious, but too plentiful...Tim planted too many seeds of these beans...

It was Australia Day last Friday...hopefully the last year it will be held on 26th. January. It is a very divisive date for this celebration. In my opinion, held for many years now, January first is a far better and much less controversial date as it is the date Australia achieved Federation, and the date of our Constitution.

As we have (finally) achieved marriage equality in Australia, surely this issue, which is just as blindingly necessary, if we think for a minute about those who make up our society, it should be a simple anencephalic decision for us to make! This is not a divisive issue to us to resolve, but not taking it, is.

My brother holds an Australia Day barbecue for his friends every year at his home in Bellerive, and we had a lovely few hours, trying to keep out of the sun, enjoying the food and chatting with friends. Chris even came home with a whole trifle, what a score!​On the way home we snapped a few shots of this lovely Eucalyptus, Corymbia ficifolia near his house. They are a popular suburban tree, being relatively small in growth, and the glorious colour range is very evident on the drive into Bellerive.

Buds, flowers and fruit of the ficifolia...these trees are simply bee magnets at this time of year.

These trees have a wide range of colours, from pale yellowish pink to deep scarlet...trouble is one doesn't always know until the tree is old enough to bloom just what the colour will be. This one is very pretty and vibrant.

It has been a while since I posted a recipe. This one, Japanese Chicken, was given to me by Andrew Thompson (on Instagram), after I commented on one of his posts, asking for his recipe as I could not get to his venue in Victoria to try it. He very kindly added the process into the Instagram feed and I gave it a try...very simple and very tasty. We ate the leftovers cold next day, still crunchy and tasty..these little delights would make perfect picnic food!

Japanese Chicken...hot with steamed rice and pickled ginger, delicious cold with Kewpie Mayo...in fact, I think the flavours of the marinade were even better when the chicken was at room temperature.

Well, hopefully things will start to even out soon, weather-wise at least as we move towards Autumn and you head to warmer months. Today is blissfully cooler and some rain fell last evening, which made my little garden frog sing with joy! The Eucalypts are indeed often spectacular...trouble is most of them are so big one has little hope of seeing the flowers or fruits close to. Dx

Reply

freebird7100

29/1/2018 19:24:20

I love the lotus! I also love the backgrounds that you add to them. The flowers that you see on your journeys are so beautiful! Just so lovely.

Some great information once again. Loe your Lotus flowers. Green with envy of your fab Australian flowers, the eucalyptus is stunning.
Wish we could send you some of our rain, our garden is water logged, it's impossible to walk on the lawn.
Hugs Wendy xx

Yes, indeed I wish you could pass it on! We did receive our first rain in weeks last evening, thank goodness, and the air is fresh and cool again. We aren't through the hottest weeks just yet, but at least we have some breathing space right now. Our lawn is pretty much baked earth. We do water a little, but lawns are expendable, especially during water restrictions...Dx

Reply

Sally Miller

30/1/2018 03:44:51

A very pretty lotus flower & a stunning eucalyptus! Such a shame that your fuschia has been "baked" it was looking so lovely last post....

Yes, it is sad...I have never seen them affected so badly by the heat, but we have been experiencing hotter, dryer weather now for about 12 months. If things don't settle soon I will need to replace them with something hardier. Meanwhile, the pruning and finger crossing continues! Dx